Improvement in shirts



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. ALLEN.

Shirt.

Nq; 206,519. Ptented July 30,1878.

TIG

N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHKNBTON, O. G.

3 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

W. ALLEN.

Shirt.

Nb, 206,5I9. Patented July 30 I878.

FI GH5.

TIC-1.4.

Elven- 0 1 IC'PETERS, PHOT0-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHXNQTON. D. C.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. ALLBNQ Shirt.

No. 206,519. Patented-JuI y-SO, 1878.

Invent or NJPETQS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D 0

UNITE .TATES PATENT .QFFICE.

WALTER ALLEN, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHIRTS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No 206,519, dated July 30, 1878; application filed April 5, 1878.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER. ALLEN, of *ashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shirts, of which the following is a specification:

The objects of my invention are to adapt a shirt to afford support to the drawers at back as well as front, and to provide additional protection over the region of the spine.

To this end I construct a shirt with a re-enforcing strip or yoke-piece superposed on the body-fabric and reaching downward to the waist, and provided at its lower end with one or more tabs having a plurality of buttons or button-holes or other convenient fastenings for attachment to the drawers. A plurality of openings being provided in the suspension-tabs, both front and back, permits the adjustment of the position of the drawers to suit persons of difierent form and height.

The yoke piece and extension may be made in one piece for a shirt opening in front or may be divided for'back opening.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of a shield-bosom front-opening shirt illustrating the invention. Fig. 2 is a back view of the same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 4 is a front view of a back-opening shirt, also illustrating the invention. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the extended yoke-piece detached, on a large scale.

A represents the front of the shirt-body, B the bosom, O the flap or opening of the bosom, and D the neck-band, all of which may be of any customary form, or may be slightly modified, as occasionmay require, to adapt them to my improvement.

At the lower end of the bosom is a tab, E, provided with a plurality of button-holes, F F, or buttons in lieu thereof, for the adjustable attachment of the front of the drawers.

G is the back of the shirt-body; H, the yoke-piece, and I the downward extension of theyoke-piece, to which inyinvention especially relates. J is a tab, formed in one piece with the yoke-piece extension .I, which latter may be made in one piece with the yoke-piece II when the shirt is originally constructed according to my plan, or may be made separately when the invention is applied to shirts already made. K K represent the button-holes, for which buttons may be substituted.

1f preferred, 1 substitute for the single tabs E and J the double or branched tabs indicated by dotted lines at E and J, with button-holes or buttons F and K.

Referring to the back-opening shirt represented in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, B is the closed bosom, Hfthe divided yoke for the open back, and I the-downward extension thereof.

To adapt the drawers or pants for use with my improved shirt, a button or button-hole is applied in front and one behind, or, if the branched tabs are used, two front buttons and two rear buttons.

In addition to the advantages of my invention above set forth, it will be seen that the extended yoke will serve for use as a bosom, so that my improved shirt is well adapted for a reversible shirt, to be worn with the opening either front or back at will.

The yoke-extension fits the hollow of the back and forms an additional thickness of clothing for protection of the spine. The rear support prevents the sagging of the drawers or bosom, and thus dispenses with. the need of any description of bosom-support. The variable attachment between the shirt and drawers, front and back, adapts either part to be set up or down independently to suit the wearer.

The provision of dual attachments front and back adapts my device to serve as a good substitute for suspenders for supporting the pantaloons, either alone or in conjunction with the buckle commonly used for tightening the waistband.

I am aware that it has been customary to provide shirts with a tab in front for support ing the drawers at that point, and such I do not claim; but I am not aware that a shirt has ever before been constructed according to my invention-that is, with a tab at back on or about the waist-line, so as to provide means for supporting the drawers at the rear, and, while keeping the drawers from sagging, preventing the shirt and collar from getting out of place.

I am also aware of the patents for improve 3. A dress-shirt constructed with a tab at back on or about the waist-line, substantially as set forth.

4:. A shirt constructed with drawer-supporting tabs at front and back having a plurality of button-holes or buttons or other fasten ings, arranged vertically, to afl'ord means for regulating the height of the drawers, substantially as set forth.

WALTER ALLEN.

Witnesses Oo'mvrus KNIGHT, EDW'ARD H. KNIGHT. 

